Saturday, August 9, 2014

This is where I live!

I know it’s confusing sometimes….it is to me, too.

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It looks like a big mansion in this photo. Not quite!

We live in 2 different places. 2 VERY different parts of the country.

To enjoy the gorgeous weather of the mountains of NC, we are spending some time in our condo this summer.

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That’s ‘me’ coming out onto the balcony. Our condo is 3 bedrooms on the second floor of a small complex that looks out over the Blue Ridge Mountains to Mt. Pisgah. (our living room has the balcony, 1 bedroom and bath to the right of that with one window, 2 bedrooms and bath on the other side with 2 windows on the front and 1 on the side of one of the bedrooms…lots of light)

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A couple of the living room while it was tidied up! lol

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And I have a kitchen and even a laundry room.

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It’s much smaller than our home in Florida so it’s easier to take care of and simplifies our life while we’re here. And it’s a chance to visit with some of our family and enjoy the mountains we both love.

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Hopefully we’ll get in some long hikes (to work off the meals at our favorite restaurants).

It’s a blessing to have 2 homes and I’m thankful for my life.

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(the mailbox kiosk that we walk to in the evenings to pick up our mail)

It’s FUN and challenging and different!

I decided to include Jane’s comment here.

“It looks so very beautiful,Diane.
Do you spend any time in the winter there? How different is the weather from Florida?” Jane x

We lived in this area year round for many years before we bought a house in Florida and retired. We don’t usually come here in the winter months now though. It gets very cold here in the mountains and the average snowfall is 15 inches. We have nice mild weather in the winter months in Florida. (and no snow! lol) 

Have you ever visited the mountains of Western North Carolina?

43 comments:

Cranberry Morning said...

You live in a beautiful part of the country! We have been through there a couple times, once to Waxhaw and once to Asheville. Once we were driving the mountain roads at night. Easy to get lost. Reminded me of the book Cold Mountain. :-) Enjoy your beautiful views.

Wendy @ Ravenwood Whimzies said...

How blessed you are Diane! We have NOT been to the western part of the state yet...as we are usually east bound and heading for the ocean...but I dream of going west one of these times!

Jane and Chris said...

It looks so very beautiful,Diane.
Do you spend any time in the winter there? How different is the weather from Florida?
Jane x

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I been to your sweet condo. It is a lovely place to stay when up here. You are close to everything.

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

Such a cozy place, so nice! We love the mountains and hop in our RV to Boone NC as often as we can...
Blessings,
Cindy

Patty Sumner said...

Wow Diane! What a beautiful view! You are blessed with two extremes of living.. The Florida coast and the Mountains of North Carolina. Those mountains are going to be gorgeous in a few months when the foliage changes colors.. enjoy your time and take lots of pics. Blessings!

Crafty in the Med said...

Hello Diane
Sounds very much like what the Spanish do although perhaps the other way around. They usually have an apartment here in the city and a villa in the countryside nearer the mountains or a condo near the beach. Many many of the city residents move out of the city during the hot summer months.
I imagine it is cooler up there in the mountains during the summer months. It certainly looks wonderful!

keep well

Amanda :-)
PS:Mediterranean Giveaway now open!

Anonymous said...

We drove to Virginia from Connecticut in May. We actually drove to Tennessee and we saw the Blue Ridge Mountains. They actually took our breath away. We are looking for a retirement Town and I think I would love to live near them.

Montanagirl said...

Hi Diane (sure not sticking to my plan very well of commenting once a week. lol)!! LOVE your Condo, it's so beautiful! So glad you can spend some time there.

The Bear's Blog said...

Hi Diane, Prudence will be coming home from camp next Saturday and I am certain she will be writing to you.

Have we ever visited WNC - yes and we stayed. Well, we are from NWNJ (Northwestern NJ), then to Pleasanton, CA, to Tallahassee, FL and now up here in the mountains. Home will always be NJ but the weather here is so much like home, we love it here. FL was the only city we ever lived in and I have to say, here is nothing better than small town living.

Denise said...

Beautiful home. I also love the mountains.Your home looks like it's in a lovely area.I would love to live in the mountains too but then I would be farther away from the Grandkids. Hugs Denise

TexWisGirl said...

you get the best of both worlds!

Vee said...

It is beautiful there! You are blessed to have the very best of both locations.

♥ Łucja-Maria ♥ said...

You live in a huge and very beautiful country.
That's great that you have two houses. A second summer for the winter.
Poland is a small country. We have four seasons.
I do not like winter, but I have to tolerate it.
Greetings from far, very the beautiful Polish.
Lucia

cucki said...

Wow it's so beautiful xxx

Kim@Snug Harbor said...

So very beautiful and yet different from Florida - even your condo is decorated differently.

Back home from our Florida trip now - we sure enjoyed it.

Kathy said...

That sunset is stunning!

Terra said...

I would like to visit your area and you are right you are blessed to have two homes. The condo is in a gorgeous area and I like the balcony.

Stacey said...

You do have the best of both worlds. :) Enjoy that view.

Inger said...

I have a few blogger friends who live there, but I have never visited. I know it is a gorgeous part of this great country. And you are blessed with two homes.

Suzan said...

Such a perfect life!!
I know both states well!! I'm a lover of the mountains for summer, spring and fall!! But I can see and understand living in for the winter. We may eventually get a condo in St. Augustine when I retire. That would be the best of our two worlds!!
Love your mountain photos.

Anonymous said...

oh you do have it all!! Its beautiful, the best of both worlds, I wish I had my own laundry, I surely do, lol, love the coffee table and that giraffe, oh so beautiful!

Susie said...

No Snow...that sounds so good. I would love to have a vacation home elsewhere. I love my hometown so much and do not want to move from here. But I would love to be gone thru 2 months of winter. LOL. Blessings for some fun Hikes. I love the walk to the mailbox. xoxo,Susie

Brenda Pruitt said...

No, never been to the Carolinas at all. Seems beautiful from your posts though.
Brenda

Poppy said...

Such beautiful mountains, and lush, green countryside! How wonderful that you can enjoy both of your homes, Diane, and explore the special qualities that each has to offer!

Happy weekend, my friend!

Hugs,
Poppy

Jeanne said...

It does look lovely and yes I have been to NC. The Smokies is one of my favorite places!

Debby Ray said...

What a beautiful home you have in those mountains...very cozy and warm...and the view is stunning! I have visited those mountains several times and I am blessed to live only a couple of hours away! Enjoy your time in NC!

Julie's Lifestyle said...

Wow Diane, your condo looks so nice on the outside and inside. Have fun and take lots of photos while you're there, which I know you will!
Julie

Trace4J said...

Beautiful friend.
I love the mountains.
You are blessed.
Hugs

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Both your homes are awesome and you are so lucky to have them in such different parts of the country. I love the mountains but I also love the beach! Enjoy your time there.
hugs,
Linda

Decor To Adore said...

What a truly quaint abode! My mother in law lived in Asheville for many years and I went to visit several times. Truly lovely.

GranthamLynn said...

What a beautiful place to live. The views are beautiful. It is so pretty. And Fla. is great too! Thanks for sharing this.
And thanks for coming by and visiting my sweet dogs post.
Enjoy your Sunday.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Lucky girl to have a home in NC and Florida. We'd have a home in Florida in a heartbeat if we ever win the lottery. We're renting a house for a change next year for the month of February again.

BeachGypsy said...

I love both homes but of course would love the Florida one best because of the weather...I have gotten used to never seeing ice and/or snow again! LOL I immediately noticed THE AWESOME GORGEOUS GIRAFFE!! Love it! I've been collecting them for years, and I dont have one like that so it caught my eye. Do you collect them as well or just have the one?

LindyLouMac said...

How lovely to have a mountain retreat, have never visited the area but maybe one day. :)

J said...

You certainly are able to enjoy the best this beautiful country has to offer! What fun to go back and forth, enjoying warmth in winter and cool mountains in summer!

Donna said...

That is such a beautiful area, and so it is no surprise that you have continued to make a home there. You sure can't beat those mountain scenics! We've visited the area a couple of times in the recent past. I still have a dream of visiting the entire Skyline Drive.

Musings from Kim K. said...

I imagine your mountains and cooler temps are welcome changes during the brutal heat of summer. You really do have the best of both worlds and climates.

Linda H said...

Diane, how lovely to "see" your other home. Sure looks like a beautiful area with great views. Lucky you!!

Red Rose Alley said...

Diane,
What a wonderful place to get away and relax. The view is great! As I get older, I like smaller homes. We have had a big home for many years, and now it's time to downsize. It will be so much easier to clean, as you said. Thanks for giving us a peek into your other home.


love,
~Sheri

Catherine Holman said...

You are doubly blessed Diane!

AC said...

such a lovely place. my family used to live in the countryside where we also got a nice view of the mountains. we still have that place but we rarely come home due to busy life overseas.

mrs. b said...

just found your blog through another and wanted to say that I so envy your condo in the mountains. I live in the middle of NC and love to visit our mountains. my mom has a place at the beach but nothing compares to those beautiful blue ridge mountains. glad you have the opportunity to enjoy them.